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Pleural fluid from tuberculous pleurisy inhibits the functions of T cells and the differentiation of Th1 cells via immunosuppressive factors

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 8, pages 172–180 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Immunosuppressive mediators in tuberculosis pleurisy (pleural fluid (PF)) are associated with the course of disease, but they remain poorly defined. To study the local immune status of patients with tuberculosis pleurisy, we examined the effect of PF on the functions of T cells and the differentiation of Th1 cells. PF could inhibit the ability of T cells to produce cytokines. However, tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-α derived from non-T cells was not impaired. Further analysis indicated that cell activation and cell cycle progression were also suppressed. Moreover, PF could inhibit Th1 cell differentiation. Importantly, we found that inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and adenosine and neutralizing antibodies against IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β could reverse cytokine production, suggesting that IDO, adenosine, IL-10 and Transforming growth factor–β1 in PF might take part in impairing T-cell functions. Taken together, our data demonstrate for the first time that several immunopathological factors participate in the downregulation of T-cell functions in local PF.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the 115 grant (no. 2008ZX10003011), the National Nature Science Foundation of China (no. 30872300) and the National Key Basic Research Program of China (973; no. 2007CB512404).

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  1. Dr CY Wu, Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China. E-mail: changyou_wu@yahoo.com

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control Research of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Qin Li, Li Li, Yun Liu, Xiaoying Fu, Dan Qiao, Hui Wang & Changyou Wu

  2. Chest Hospital of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China

    Suihua Lao

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Secondary Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Fengyu Huang

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Li, Q., Li, L., Liu, Y. et al. Pleural fluid from tuberculous pleurisy inhibits the functions of T cells and the differentiation of Th1 cells via immunosuppressive factors. Cell Mol Immunol 8, 172–180 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2010.80

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